Hopedale Planning Board to recommend Biagetti for vacancy

HOPEDALE - The Planning Board has recommended appointing a former selectwoman to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Brian Keyes.

Members voted unanimously this week to ask the Board of Selectmen to allow Sandra Biagetti to fill the seat.

The position was left empty by Keyes last month after he was elected selectman in May. Biagetti was the only candidate who applied, according to officials.

A former selectwoman and current member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and Opioid Task Force, Biagetti said her experience with local zoning will serve her well.

“When you see the plans come through, it’s really just very interesting to me where the plan begins, and I’d love to be part of this,” she told board members at their Wednesday meeting. “I’ll dive in head on.”

By proactively rezoning residential lots to commercial and general business in recent years, the board has laid the groundwork for what officials hope will help boost commercial tax revenue.

Most recently, members signed off on a massive upgrade to the Cumberland Farms gas station and convenience store at the busy Rte. 16 intersection as other new development looks to settle in the area.

“I’m just very pleased with the way things have gone and I can’t wait to be one of the people in there,” Biagetti said in an interview Friday.

Planning Board Vice Chairman Steven Gallagher - who also serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals - said he contacted Biagetti about the opening because he thought she would be a good fit.

“I’ve worked with Sandra on the zoning board for years and she’s very good and apt on that,” he said. “That brings a good fit to this. Even though this is different, on the zoning board we bend the rules a little bit for certain cases, she’s familiar with a lot of it that way.”

Planning Board members said they expect selectmen will review Biagetti’s application at their next meeting, scheduled for Aug. 21.

Christopher Gavin can be reached at 508 634-7582 or cgavin@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @c_gavinMDN